Integrated Automatic Heating/Air-Conditioning System (IHKA), Basic And High E60, E61, E63, E64: Introduction: Notes

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The integrated automatic heating/air conditioning system (IHKA) is available in the versions Basic and High (special equipment option 534).

E60 and E61
Standard equipment: IHKA Basic (IHKA High on 545i)
E63 and E64
Standard equipment: IHKA High

The automatic air-conditioning system High generates a very high level of climatic comfort with separate adjustment for the driver's side and for the front-passenger side.

New Features Of The IHKA:

An Electric Auxiliary Heater working on the PTC principle (positive temperature coefficient) is installed on vehicles with diesel engines
The electric auxiliary heater is a component of the heat exchanger for the heating system. Electric heating elements made of aluminium have been added to the plates in the coolant flow of the heating system heat exchanger. The air drawn in is directly heated by these heating elements and fed into the vehicle interior through the air vents. In principle, the electric auxiliary heater works like an electric fan heater.
Condensation Sensor
The condensation sensor detects an imminent misting up of the windscreen, before condensation actually forms. To prevent the windows from misting over, the IHKA control unit starts to work through a table of measures as soon as a certain level of humidity is detected at the windscreen.
LIN Bus (Local Interconnect Network Bus)
The LIN bus serves to actuate flap motors, the electric auxiliary heater and the blower motor in the heating/air-conditioning system.
Convertible Program (E64 Only)
The convertible program adapts the air-conditioner settings (blower, airflow, temperature) to the conditions created by the open top. The settings do not have to be changed when the top is opened or closed.

When the convertible top is opened and the air-conditioning system is in automatic mode, the convertible program is automatically activated.

The convertible program is stored in the IHKA control unit.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN IHKA BASIC AND IHKA HIGH

Component	Basic	High
Solar sensor	-	1
Condensation sensor	-	1
AUC sensor	-	1
Sensor for heating system heat exchanger	1	2
Ventilation temperature sensor	-	1
Rear compartment flap motor (air stratification)	-	1
Ventilation flap motor	1	2
Footwell flap motor	1	2

Differences/modifications from E39:

New IHKA controls with additional functions: OFF button, temperature and airflow are set with rotary switches. On the IHKA Basic, the manual air distribution is set with the IHKA controls. On the IHKA High, the manual air distribution is set with the controller on the CID (Central Information Display).
Revised display concept
The scale on the rotary switch for the blower setting has a 9-element LED display. The manual blower speed setting is shown by the corresponding LEDs lighting up. In automatic mode, the display remains off (IHKA High only).

The LCD display from earlier versions has been discontinued. Additional air-conditioning functions such as air stratification or independent heater (option 536) are selected and activated in the Central Information Display (CID) using the controller.
The flap drives are only operated by flap motors.
Separate left/right-hand footwell flaps, (IHKA High only)
Separate ventilation flaps, (IHKA High only)
Intake fan arrangement in the heating/air-conditioning system
The fan is located after the evaporator.
On vehicles with diesel engine, a heating system heat exchanger is installed with integrated electric auxiliary heater. The same heating system heat exchanger is used for both Basic and High versions.
Clutchless, externally actuated a/c compressor with regulated performance
Sensor for automatic air-recirculation control (AUC sensor, IHKA High only)
Solar sensor for taking external light/heat sources into account, which could affect the air conditioning in the vehicle interior (IHKA High only).

Benefits of system:

The efficiency and functionality of the IHKA has been improved compared to the predecessor model. Despite this, the size is some 1/3 smaller than on the E39.
The electric auxiliary heater accelerates the heating of the vehicle interior, especially at low ambient temperatures and during the cold-start phase. This clears the windows of condensation more quickly.
The condensation sensor automatically prevents/eliminates condensation on the inside of the windscreen, before it becomes visible.
The variable evaporator control extracts less humidity from the air. This reduces the risk of mucous membranes drying out.